HOSPITAL patients in Epsom had to be moved from their treatment area after a fire broke out on the floor below.

Firefighters were called to Epsom General Hospital on Sunday afternoon to reports of a small blaze caused by an ice-making machine in the kitchen on Chuter Ede ward.

A spokesman for the NHS trust said: “During the incident, 12 patients were moved from the hospital’s clinical assessment unit (CAU) – located directly above Chuter Ede – in order to protect them from smoke inhalation.

“The fire brigade also supervised the movement of patients, who were able to return to the CAU in an hour-and-a-half.”

Chief executive Samantha Jones added: “Thanks to the professionalism of hospital staff and the emergency services, no-one was hurt, the disruption to patients was kept to a minimum and the small fire was quickly brought under control.”